Publication date: Jun 26, 2026
A man in his 60s presented with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure secondary to post-COVID-19 fibrotic pneumonia, requiring 3 L/min oxygen therapy (peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO) 75%), peripheral cyanosis, modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale score 4 and exertional desaturation. An 8-week physiotherapy protocol progressed from diaphragmatic breathing/gravity-assisted postures (days 1-3) through segmental percussion/proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (day 4 to week 2), short-lever/long-lever upper limb exercises (weeks 3-4), to trunk mobility/ambulation (weeks 5-8). Outcomes included oxygen weaning to 0. 5 L/min, SpO 94% on room air, Borg score 1 and 50 m unsupported ambulation. The interventions enhanced secretion clearance, alveolar recruitment and ventilation-perfusion matching via titration matched to clinical stability (SpO ≥90% phase thresholds). This demonstrates the role of structured physiotherapy in resource-limited settings for post-COVID-19 recovery.
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Clinical | Adult intensive care |
| Percussion | COVID-19 |
| Pneumonia | Long term care |
| Trunk | Respiratory system |
| Week |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | respiratory failure |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | pneumonia |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Oxygen |
| disease | MESH | included |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Medical air |